The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-12-01
FEEDING ANIMALS.
An Agricultural Problem Which Is Decom.
ing More and Mere n study.

u
Every farmer desires to prosper in
all that he undertakes, if such thing
is possible. TO secure the best results
requires the exercise of good Judgment
in every operation that is undertaken.
Very much depends upon the care of
animals in winter, and especially in the
matter of feeding; it is not always the
quantity that is fed that determines the
of feeding. Economy may be practiced
in the feeding of animals and they still
maintain a good, healthy. thrifty con-
dition. With animals, as with the hui
man race, overlooking may produce
disease and an emaciated condition.
1t should be remembered that the
stomach of an animal is simply ma
chine for the conversion of food into
those substances that are easily assimi-
lated to the frame of the animal, and
of which only certain amount is re-
quired. The design of this machine is
simply to perform the work required of
it, and no more than that ought to be
expected of it, any more than a
moving machine should be expected
to cut the product of an alder
swamp. To gorge an animal with food
only serves to overwork the stomach in
the attempt to digest more than it is
really able to, and as result much is
voided by the animal and goes
to waste. Another error is to
feed so frequently as to prevent
the stomach from taking any rest; this
creates an unnatural appetite on the
part of the animal which will eventually
result in diseased condition of the
stomach. No farmer would think of
keeping an animal continually at labor,
nor is there any good reason why such
animal should, when not at labor, be
all the time eating. 1t is much better
to have regular hours for feeding. and
then only with view to the actual re-
quirements of the animal; if the feed il
likely to be insufficient for want of time
to eat in the case of working animals,
it should be sufficiently concentrated in
character to meet all the wants of the
case.
There is no difficulty in the case of
cows or young stock that perform no
labor, and with them feeding regularly
night and morning, by which method
they learn to be quiet at all other times.
proves to be much better than TO create
a continual uneasiness, resulting from
feeding little every time the barn is
visited. Experience has taught that by
the practice of regularity in feeding,
animals will actually do better upon a
less quantity of feed. Neat stock are
better calculated to take considerable
quantities of coarse food than horses,
because of the character of the stom-
ach, comprising. as it does, different
compartments, and of a much larger
size.
The stomach of the horse is not large;
it is estimated to contain only about
fifteen or sixteen quarts; so it is clear
to be seen that the food must be con-
siderably concentrated. Another pc |
culiarity of the stomach of the horse is |
that if food is taken when the stomach !
is full the effect is to force its contents !
into the intestines, and thence without !
deriving the benefit which ought to
come from the same. Feeding is very |
properly becoming more and more a
study. and the greater the degree of |
in this direction the greater
the degree of economy that can be prsc-
HTlfian, Il Tsomans, in M Y.
Observer.